Editing XFL (2001) (section)

==Current status and revival==
{{main|XFL (2020–2023)}}

The 2001 XFL games are now part of the [[WWE Video Library]], the rights to which have been held by NBC's streaming service [[Peacock (streaming service)|Peacock]] since March 2021.

In September 2012, WWE attempted to file a new XFL trademark for use in wrestling and football which was previously filed in 2009 under XFL LLC. The application remained pending since WWE never put together a "Statement of Use" for the trademark.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/video_reviews/254196/Various-News:--XFL-Back-in-the-News,-Chris-Jericho,-and-More.htm |title=Various News: XFL Back in the News, Chris Jericho, and More |publisher=411MANIA |date=September 9, 2012 |access-date=December 17, 2015}}</ref> In July 2015, the XFL's first trademark extension was granted.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.trademarkia.com/xfl-85720169.html |title=XFL – Reviews & Brand Information – World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. Stamford, Connecticut – Serial Number: 85720169 |website=Trademarkia.com |access-date=December 17, 2015}}</ref>

On December 15, 2017, it was reported that McMahon was seriously considering a revival of the XFL. WWE didn't confirm or deny the rumors, but released a statement that McMahon was launching a new company known as Alpha Entertainment, that was looking to expand into sports and entertainment properties "including professional football", and that WWE itself wasn't returning to professional football.<ref name="revival">{{cite news |url=https://www.cbssports.com/wwe/news/will-the-xfl-actually-be-making-a-return-wwe-is-not-exactly-denying-the-rumors |title=Will the XFL actually be making a return? WWE is not exactly denying the rumors |website=CBSSports.com |access-date=January 25, 2018|language=en}}</ref>

Noted wrestling journalist [[Dave Meltzer]] speculated that McMahon was starting a [[shell corporation]] with his own money to protect WWE shareholders on a potential XFL revival.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvzE1vfnrP8 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830040901/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvzE1vfnrP8&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=August 30, 2020 | url-status=dead|title=YouTube |website=www.youtube.com}}</ref> A revival of the XFL would air either on traditional TV or the [[WWE Network]], and would be toned down compared to its original incarnation due to [[Chronic traumatic encephalopathy|CTE]] concerns in football that surfaced in the early 2010s.<ref name="revival"/> On December 22, 2017, McMahon sold $100&nbsp;million worth of WWE shares, which required notification to the [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]]; the SEC reported that it was done so that McMahon could fund Alpha Entertainment.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/12/21/vince-mcmahon-sells-100-million-of-wwe-stock-as-xfl-reboot-plan-continues/ |title=Vince McMahon sells $100&nbsp;million of WWE stock as XFL reboot plan continues |date=December 21, 2017}}</ref> WWE shares did in fact decline slightly due to the report, with [[Citigroup]] downgrading WWE shares from "buy" to "neutral".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.schaeffersresearch.com/content/news/2017/12/22/wwe-stock-falls-after-ceo-mcmahon-sells-shares |title=WWE stock falls after CEO McMahon sells shares |publisher=Schaeffer's Investment Research |first=Josh |last=Selway|date=December 22, 2017 }}</ref>

On January 25, 2018, Alpha Entertainment announced a [[XFL (2020)|new incarnation of the XFL]] which began play in 2020. The XFL does not utilize the same sports entertainment gimmicks as the original, instead focusing on adjusting rules to increase the speed of play.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/22211134/wwe-vince-mcmahon-try-launch-professional-football-league |title=WWE's Vince McMahon looks to start professional football league |work=ESPN.com |access-date=January 25, 2018}}</ref><ref name="espn-newannounce">{{cite news |url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/22213241/vince-mcmahon-gimmick-free-xfl-return-2020 |title=Vince McMahon: XFL to return in 2020 without gimmicks |website=ESPN.com |access-date=January 25, 2018}}</ref> NBC has no involvement with this incarnation, which is instead carried by the outlets of [[ESPN Inc.]] and (during its 2020 season) [[Fox Corporation]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/xfl-strikes-tv-deals-with-fox-and-disney-11557146700 |title=XFL strikes TV deals with Fox and Disney |last=Flint |first=Joe|date=May 6, 2019 |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |access-date=May 6, 2019 |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref> Following the 2020 season (cut short by [[stay-at-home order]]s tied to the COVID pandemic), McMahon sold the XFL to a consortium led by his former wrestler [[Dwayne Johnson]] (The Rock) along with Johnson's business partners [[Dany Garcia]] and RedBird Capital. The league played [[2023 XFL season|one season in 2023]], but would later merge with the [[USFL (2022)|USFL]] (established by Fox Corporation during the XFL's 2020–23 hiatus) to form the [[United Football League (2024)|United Football League]], with the XFL name kept as a conference name.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Newly formed United Football League sets 8 markets, tabs coaches|url=https://www.espn.com/xfl/story/_/id/39222541/newly-formed-united-football-league-sets-8-markets-tabs-coaches|website=ESPN |date=January 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref>